Electric contact device.



, No. 695,86l. 'Patented nu. is, |902.I

N. C. COTABISH. ELECTRIC CONTACT DEVICE.

(Application med Apr. 18, 1901.)4

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NELSON C. OOTABISH, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO.

ELECTRIC CONTACT DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,861, dated March18, 1902.

Application filed April 16, 1901. Serial No. 56,115. (No model.)

To all whom it rita/y concern:

Beit known that I, NELSON C. CorABIsH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lakewood, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric ContactDevices, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to electric-current contact devices; and itappertains more especially to the features hereinafter pointed out inthe annexed claims.

This invention has for its object the production of contact devices-suchas streetrailway trolleys, duc-of a removable non-metallic materialcomprising the active contact and reinforcing metallic flangesprojecting beyond the periphery of the contact portion and a bushing oflubricative conductive material forming an inner lining to the wheelhub.

In practice I have found that a removable tread portion of atrolley-wheel composed wholly of carbon or like material withoutprotecting side flanges soon breaks away sufficiently to destroy itsusefulness, because of the inherent brittleness of carbon materials,however densely they may be made.

Vith these ends in View Iillustrate in the accompanying drawing suchfeatures of adaptation as disclose the merits of the invention,

without limiting myself to the specific inter-` relation of parts.

The contact device is formed with a central removable piece of carbon orother conductive material having a high specific resistance A. This isformed with a central hole and a contact-groove a in its edge. The facesor rims d2 on each side of the groove a are made slightly conical, so asto t into conical recesses of the side flanges B and B.

In order to protect the carbonized portion of the device, I place itbetween the two side flanges B and B. Flange B has formed thereon aprojecting hub ZJ, which is counterbored, and a conductivelubricating-bushing b is placed therein. This bushing is only used incontact devices partaking of the wheel form. It should be understoodthat I do not limit myself to a rotative form of contact device, as asliding device would come equally within the scope of my presentinvention, Flange B is screwed on the hub b, and it has a conical recesswhich abuts one of the faces a2.

Vithin the projection b, at its outer end, is formed or placed a ringb2, which is forced into place under considerable pressure. This ringserves to keep the conductive lubricating-bushing b' in position againstaxial displacement, and by reason of the expansion of projection b theflange B is held against rotative disengagement without the use oflocknuts, dac. The direction of the screw-thread is such as to be inopposition to the direction of rotation when the device is made in wheelform.

The conical recesses of flanges B and B are of a greater depth than theconical faces or rims o2, so that the carbon centerA is positivelyalined by simply moving the anges toward each other. This is a simpleform of construction, which insures a rapidity of assembling inmanufacture unattainable With parallel overlapping cylindrical portions.To secure ample axial dimensions, the flanges have formed thereonexternal hubs C and c.

The flanges B and B beyond the carbon center A extend outwardly andflare away from the grooves a, so as to prevent easy displacement of thecontact device from an electric conductor. Without the protecting andguiding ianges the carbon center, however desirable for electricalcontact purposes, is found impracticable on account of the inherentbrittleness of the material, which does not admit of flanges beingformed thereon having the proper radial extension, and in consequencethe device readily leaves the conductor, and in so doing as it severscontact therewith the edges of the rim are broken. An unprotected deviceof high specific resistance and non-metallic formation has such a shortlife that its use is impracticable.

My device combines all the valuable features of a contact portionsusceptible to minimum arcin g effects, with protecting members which atthe same time serve as guiding anges.

The terms lubricative conducting material or conductivelubricating-bushing are intended to cover all or any materials that havehigh lubricative and current-conducting propertics at one and the sametime.

IOO

Instead of counterboring the hub b I may use two retaining-rings b2, oneat each end of the'bushing.

What I claim isl. In electric-current contacts, a non-metallicconductive central portion of high specific resistance, in combinationwith protecting and guiding members of greater radial extension securedthereon of a relativelylow specific resistance, substantially as setforth.

2. In electric current contacts, a carbon central portion, metallicprotecting and guiding flanges secured to each other and supporting saidcarbon center, in combination with a conductive lubricating-bushingconcentric with the axis of said flanges.

3. In electric-current contacts, a plurality of contact-surfacescomprising in combination, a conductive center of high specificresistance and conductive side flanges projecting beyond said center, ofrelatively low specific resistance, substantially as set forth.

4. A composite contact device, comprising in combination, guidingmetallic flanges of maximum radial extension and a carbon center ofsmaller diameter clamped between said flanges, substantially as setforth.

5. A composite device comprising a metallic flange, a projection formedthereon and a recess therein,a second metallic recess-formed flange,means for supporting and holding the second flange on said projectionand a removable carbon member clamped between said flanges, Within therecess thereof, substantially as set forth.

6. A composite contact device, comprising supporting and guidingflanges, oppositelyrelated tapering recesses formed therein, a removablecarbon portion having tapering rims formed thereon supported betweensaid flanges and within the recesses thereof, substantially as setforth.

7. A composite contact device, comprising side flanges and anon-metallic conducting member supported between said flanges, suchmember being formed of less diameter than said flanges.

8. A composite contact device comprising separable side flanges, anon-metallic conducting member removably held between the flanges, alubricative conducting-bushing in one of the flanges, means for holdingsaid bushing therein and the flanges against separation, substantiallyas set forth.

9. A non-metallic conducting member having tapering rims, guiding andsupporting flanges having tapering recesses adapted to engage the saidrims, and means for holding said flanges land rims against displacement.

l0. A composite contact device, a central non-metallic portionsupporting and guiding flanges therefor, a conductive lubricatingbushingwithin one of said flanges, and one or more retaining-rings in axialalinement and opposition to said bushing, substantially as set forth.

1l. A contact device comprisinga non-metallic contact portion means forholding said contact portion in position and a self-lubricatingconductive bushing.

12. A contact device comprising two flanged plates, a carboncontact-block between said plates and an axial self-lubricatingconductive bushing.

13. In a contact device, the combination with two flanged plates, oneplate having an integral sleeve on which the other plate is removablysecured, a non-metallic contactblock mounted on the sleeve and clampedbetween said plates and a lubricating conductive bushing disposed withinsaid sleeve.

14:. In electric-current contacts, a plurality of contact-surfacescomprising in combination, a conductive center and conductive sideflanges projecting beyond the center, said center and said flanges beingof different specific resistances, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NELSON C. COTABISl-I.

Witnesses:

EDMUND J. CLIMo, ARTHUR G. SUMMERELL.

